TE KUITI DAIRY FACTORY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 433, 24 January 1912, Page 5

TE KUITI DAIRY FACTORY.

OPENING CEREMONY.

A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION.

An event of momentous interest to the district transpired at Te Kuiti on Monday in the opening of the new dairy factory. The ceremony was fixed for six o'clock for the purpose of allowing as many of the suppliers as possible to be present at the functon. As the hour approached a good number of people assembled at the factory including a good sprinkling of Tangitu settlers. Other visitors included Mr Scholes (chairman) and Mr Mora (clerk), Waitomo County Council; Mr Osmond, representing Otorohanga Town Council; Mr G. Bevege. Pio Pio Dairy factory; Mr Demptser, Government Dairy expert; and Mr McCarthy, of Niven and Co. Mr Boddie, chairman of directors, in a few words introduced Mr C. K. Wilson, member for the district, and requested him to perform the opening ceremony.

Mr Wilson who was greeted with applause, in a well chosen speceh, congratulated those interested upon the energy and enterprise displayed in erecting such a fine factory. His association with the dairy industry dated back many years, he having been chairman of the first co-operative company started in Horowbenua. The prospects for that company were not half ao bright as they were at Te Kuiti. which had a great future both in town and district. He predicted that supplies would shortly be coming from all round the district and up and down the'jline , and the success of the factory was assured. " The watchword of the company should ba "quality." When this was achieved it was the duty of the Government to see that the article {was handled and sold as New Zealand butter. This country had the ability and enterprise to compete with the world. He congratulated the directors and all who were interested in the project in takiing another step forward in progress on behalf of the Te Kuiti district. Mr Wilson then set the machinery going and formally declared the factory open amid general applause. The directors of the factor; are Messrs J. Boddie (chairman). Major Lusk, Messrs Darrow, Hardy, Gadsby, Somerville and J. Steel.

THE FACTORY. Te universal opinion with respect to the factory is that it is thoroughly up-to-date in every respect and is a credit to the district. The factory is worked on the gravitation principle, thus avoiding the slightest amount of handling of cream or butter more than is absolutely necessary. The cream runs from the receiving vats right through the pasteurising process into a cooling vat where it is treated with a starter and subsequently runs into the churn whence it emerges to be packed and placed in the cool storage chamber until sent away. Every step is perfectly simple and everything makes for the most efficient working. The factory is very substantially built, having a basement of concrete with a strong timber superstructure. The floors and sides are all of concrete, and every provision is made for the thorough draining of the factory.

EQUIPMENT. The equipment is of the best, the machinery including a 10 h.p. Brown and May engine; als h.p. boiler; a Linde freezer; a steam pump, for use when the engine is not required, and a super heater for heating the water on the way to the boiler. The testing room is fitted up with a complete equipment for carrying out the process of testing butter, cream, and starter, and all the appliances requisite for the manufacture of the highest grade of butter are to be seen in their different rooms. A hot water service throughout the building completes a thoroughly modern and up-to-date plant. It is of course recognised that the capacity of the factory will not be tested during the present season, but it is estimated that the plant is capable of turning out from 600 to 700 tons of butter in a season.

THE DINNER. A dinner in connection with opening of the factory was held in Messrs Hattaway and Fitzpatrick's hall in the evening. Mr J. Boddie (chairman of directors) presided. Guests to the number of about 60 sat down to an excellent repast provided by Mr E. J. Thomson. Apologies were received from Messrs Cuddie (Dairy Commissioner), J. W. Ellis, P. R. Colebrook, A. V. Snadden, James, C. Harrison and others. After the usual toast to the King had been honoured, Mr J. B. Sharpies proposed the toast of the "Navy, Army and Territorial Forces." Major Lusk in responding referred to the services of the colonial forces in the early days and urged the necessity of helping along the preparation for defence now being established in the Dominion. The time was coming when we would have to defend our country against aggression and the reorganisation of our defence system now being carried out should be supported and helped forward by all. The toats of "Parliament." coupled with the name of Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P., was proposed by Major Lusk, who, in the course of a happy speech, paid a tribute to the high standard of our Parliament. He considered the result of the recent elections had introduced to parliamentary life a set of public men, included among whom was the member for Taumarunui. who would help the country forward in the march of progress. Mr Wilson, in reply, said he had been referred to by the Sydney Bulletin as the elect of the cow "cockie." He was proud of the distinction for the cow "cockie" was the backbone of the country and in representing

him he (the member) was representing one of the greatest factors in New Zealand's prosperity. He would only make one poromise on going to Parliament. He promised to work hard, and what energy and persistence could perform, would certainly bs accomplished. He proposed to get a band of city members to come to the backblocks and learn from experience something of the conditions of pioneering. He ventured to say it would be a valuable object lesson. He hoped to see the day when the cow "cockies" and town residents of the district would have roads over which they could drive motor cars at alt seasons. To accomplish this object he could have to become a pest—not asocial peat, but a road pest—in Parliament. There was no doubt as to the future of the district, and Te Kuiti was destined to become a very big centre, i The toast of "Local Bodies" was proposed by Mr Kelso, who referred in eulogistic terms to the members of local bodies. These men gave their time and energy to important work for the good of the community, and in return frequently received more kicks than ha'-pence as their reward. The local body was a great factor in the district, and particularly to the dairying industry. Mr Scholes, chairman of the Waitomo County Council, congratulated the company upon their achievement and providing such a fine factory. Only those who had taken part in similar projects knew the difficulties which had to be overcome in getting a factory to the stage of the Te Kuiti factory. It was the duty of the settlers of the surrounding district to come to the support of the company and give it loyal assistance. He fully recognised what Mr Kelso had said with respect to the work of local bodies in providing means of transit in the district. Without such facilities the dairying industry could not flourish. He considered the present system adopted by the Government in giving £ for £ subsidies for roads could not be beaten in the world. He strongly advised settlers to take full advantage of it and prosperity would follow. Mr Osmond, representingthe Otorohanga Town Council, also responded. He predicted that when the land which was at present locked up was made available for settlement there would be still more work for tin local bodies. Irr his own district substantial metalling schemes were being projected and the carrying out of these meant a great thing in the progress of the distirct both socially and industrially. Mr Mora proposed the toast of "The Man on the Land." He recalled the work of the early settlers in cheese making which was the forerunner of the butter industry. He was the first secretary of the first cheese factory established at Akaroa and to the starting of the dairying industry could be attributed the high prices of land and the general prospeirty of the small farmer. Mr JMcLean. in responding, said he was proud to be a cow "cockie," who was the man who made every country. His undaunted courage . and perseverance subdued the forest and conquered the .difficulties attendant upon bringing the land to producing point. Not only butter, but all the commodities 'for man's necessities were produced from the land. Even Glenlivet was provided by the man on the land for those who liked their "wee drap." The man un the land wa9 going to be a big force in New Zealand. When they were thoroughly organised they would constitute a very important factor in politics. In the past they had been somewhat selfish in holding aloof from matters which did not immediately concern them but that time was ended. Increased intelligence, the application of science and improved methods were revolutionising the work and status of the man on the land. Credit must be given to the Government for the good work done in the past towards developing the industries so vital to the man on the land. He predicted that the district before long would be sending out not only butter but everj product of the soil in larger quantities and that every cow "cockie" would be proud of his district. Mr Guilford (Tangitu) said he was proud to belong to the army of cow "cockies." The greatest necessity of the man on the land in this district was roads. Until roads were provided they could not progress. He had talked ail day to Mr Wilson on the subject of roads, and he would continue to talk on the subject on every possible opportunity. At Tangitu the main road was a mud pool and they had to swim out. They had some of the finest country in the district and when they had the roads the Tangitu settlers would be of great assistance to the Te Kuiti factory. Mr Guilford drew a graphic picture of the road difficulties at Tangitu and was loudly applauded at the conclusion. The toast of the "Dairy Division" was proposed by Mr G. Bevege, who eulogised the work of the department and paid a tribute to Mr Dempster for his unfailing courtesy and his readiness to assist on all occasions. Mr 'Dempster, in reply, said he was highly pleased with the Te Kuiti factory, ""which would compare favourably with any in New Zealand. He emphasised the wisdom of building for the future and congratulated the company upon the result of their enterprise. Mr C K. Wilson, M.P., Droposed the toast of the "The Company." He congratulated the promoters upon providing means for the small farmer to prosper. The Bmall farmer was a clever man and was going to make the Te Kuiti factory one of the best in the Dominion. Two plrasing features were revealed in the fact that the company was on the co-operative principle, and that the building and plant were rather ahead of the present requirements. They would shortly be behind the times. He urged the company to promote the efficient testing of cows and the settlers to milk only the best and strictly cull the duffers. Mr R. M. Somerviile, in respjnding, referred to the primitive conditions which existed in the district seven years ago and drew attention to the progress that had been made since his arrival in the district. There was no doubt as to

the grass-growing capabilities of the district, and he waß proud to be associated with the starting of what he beieved to be the first home-separa-tion factory on the co-operative principle South of Auckland. It was the aim of the directors to keep the factory thoroughly up-to-date and carry it on in the best interests of the suppliers. Mr Boddie said the occasion was one of great interest to everyone in the district either directly or indirectly. It had been his lot to be associated with the dairying industry for more than 20 years, and at no period of that time had he felt more pleasure than on the present occasion. The establishing of a good dairy factory in the centre of a great district was a material factor in prosperity. Referring to the cost of the undertaking, Mr Boddie said the cost was a little over £3OOO. The. establishing of a co-operative factory without calling upon the outside suppliers waH unprecedented in his experience. It had been made possible by the fact that the business people had assisted and the responsibility being taken by the directors. The business people got no benefit beyond what came to them indirectly through the increased prosperity of the district. He was not asking too much when he claimed the loyal support of the cow "cockies." The establishment of the industry was not only going to bring benefit in the way of direct returns; it would also establish permanently a good value for their holdings. He was glad to see the settlers from outback. He had been in Tangitu and spent an interesting two days there. No district could fail to prosper as long as it was surrounded by settlers doing the work like the men at Tangitu. The factory would prove of inestimable benefit to all these blocks as it would do away with the enormous expense of creameries as compared with the home separation principle. Home separation introduced a great many phases which acted for the benefit of the dairy farmer. The expense of transit was a mere bagatelle and was compensated for ten times over in other directions. A very important item was the ability to give good, fresh milk to the calves and the young stock reared on home separated milk were far superior to those fed on creamery milk. It was being widely recognised that the building of small factories was a mistake, and it would pay the individual supplier handsomely to help to build up substantial concerns such as Te Kuiti. These facts had influenced the directors in building a first-class factory. It had been said they had built beyond their requirements. They had done nothing of the sort. Mr Dempster had told them that more money was lost by the bui'ding of small factories than in any other manner and he could corroborate this. The best interests of the suppliers had been studied and the principle on which the factory had been designed made it the most modern in the Dominion. Praise was due to Mr Cuddie and Mr Dempster for assistance rendered and the building was a credit to Mr Jones, the architect It had been designed with the object of saving labour in every possible way and the result would be a saving in returns to suppliers more than was possible in any other way. What must be a gratifying feature to suppliers was the fact that the co-operative principle had been rigidly adhered to. When the dairying movement was mooted he had been approached to advocate against co-operation, but had refused. He was proud of the fact that the factory they had established belonged to the farmers themselves and to nobody else. They had taken a great responsibility and claimed and deserved the hearty co-operation and support of the farmers. The directors, all but one. were suppliers and they intended to lay themselves out to do all in their nower to further the interests of the outlying settlers. In Mr Boscawen they had secured a manager with the highest credentials. He had taken first prize for two years for butter in the Auckland province and they could rest assured that in Mr Boscawen they had to deal with a gentleman who would earn and maintain the confidence of every supplier. The toast of "The Commercial Interests" was proposed by Mr Scholes and ably responded t i by Mr Foy, who appealed to the settlers to cordially support the industry. He urged suppliers to aspire to the best and work up to the highest possible production He referred to the Tangitu district as one of the finest he had seen and predicted for it a bright future. Mr Hardy in a neat speech proposed the toastof "The Architect. Builder and Secretary," response being made by Messrs Jones, Mac Donald, McCarthy and Boscawen. The toast of "The Ladies" was proposed by Mr A. Christensen and responded to by Messrs Baker and McManus. "The Press" was proposed by Mr Gadbsy and reponded to by Messrs Matthew and Dines. Those preßent joined in sing- , ing Auld Lang Syne, and the gatheiing broke up at 11 p.m. During the evening songs were kindly rendered by Mesars Tassell and Spencer, and Mr C. K.Wilson recited in his best style "The Mingy Cockatoo."